Matt Barnes wishes he could play for the Lakers against the Magic on Sunday

February 13, 2011|By Josh Robbins, Orlando Sentinel

This is the day Matt Barnes circled on his calendar when he first saw the 2010-11 NBA schedule.

Feb. 13: Los Angeles Lakers at Orlando Magic.

Now a Laker, Barnes wanted nothing more than to return to Central Florida, play in front of the fans he loves and stick it to the team that didn't re-sign him this past offseason. But Barnes injured his right knee in early January and now is rehabbing from surgery to repair torn meniscus cartilage. He'll watch this afternoon's game from his home in Southern California.

"The two Boston games I missed were hard, but this game's going to kill me not being able to go back to Orlando and play," Barnes told the Orlando Sentinel in a phone interview. "Just being the competitor I am and really leaving there last year, I didn't think I was going to be leaving. Then, all of a sudden, I ended up with the Lakers. I'd really like to get out there and play against those guys."

Barnes, a rugged 6-foot-7 forward, played just one season for Orlando, but he made an impression on fans here with his grit and his toughness. When last season ended, he wanted to re-sign with the team, but the Magic did not offer him a contract and opted instead to sign Quentin Richardson.

These days, the struggling Magic may regret their decision, not that they would ever acknowledge it. The current team possesses plenty of scorers, but few, if any, guys who simply move the ball, cut and facilitate offense. The rotation also lacks a perimeter defender with length who can shut down an opponent's top wing scorer.

"Matt's a cutter, a slasher, an offensive rebounder, things like that. We really don't have that guy. I don't think that Matt is necessarily any better a defender than the guys we have, but I would say at least at this point, he's a more willing defender. He's a guy who really wanted to go out and guard people every night."

Barnes appreciates Van Gundy's comments, but they also elicited what Barnes called "bittersweet" feelings. On one hand, Barnes is thankful that Van Gundy likes what he brought to the court. On the other hand, Barnes wishes his on-court performance resulted in a contract offer.

Barnes said he talks often with Magic center Dwight Howard and stays in contact with point guard Jameer Nelson and also has watched his former team play more extensively since he injured his knee.

The Magic have gone 9-9 in their last 18 games.

Barnes said he believes it will take a while for Orlando's recast roster to jell after it added four players and traded away four others in mid-December.

"I think they'll figure it out," Barnes said. "They're still definitely one of the best teams in the league. It's just going to take a little bit of time."

But, when pressed whether the team misses his defense, Barnes paused for a moment.

"Ummm," he responded, "people are probably going to hate me for saying it, but I absolutely feel they do 100 percent. I did watch those games against Miami and against Boston and against those other teams. Last year, when you look back at the numbers, I did a fairly good job. No one was really getting shut all the way down, but I know I made those guys really work for all the baskets they got, and they really weren't as effective as they are this year. But the Magic went a different direction, which is a part of the business. To me, they went for more shooting."

Now, Barnes is rehabbing his knee and he expects to be healthy again when the Lakers host the Magic on March 14.